Rev. John S. Peterson, O.P. ’57, assistant dean of admission and the coordinator of the College’s Alumni/ae Admission Associates Program, has been named national chaplain of the Providence College Alumni Association.

Appointed in April by College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80, Father Peterson fills the position left vacant by the death of Rev. Francis C. Duffy, O.P. ’53 on March 21, 2006. Father Duffy served as alumni association national chaplain for 15 years.

“I am very honored to be chosen,” said Father Peterson, noting that Father Shanley “had many choices” among the Dominican Community at the College. He described his new position as chaplain to the College’s approximately 44,500 alumni as “a very pastoral ministry. It is very exciting because it’s new to me . . . in a formal way.”

Father Peterson’s appointment is effective July 1, 2006. He will step down as assistant dean of admission and coordinator of the Alumni/ae Admission Associates Program after commencement this month. A national initiative, the associates program trains alumni/ae to serve as PC representatives at college fairs for prospective students.

In conjunction with Father Peterson’s appointment, Father Shanley established a new reporting responsibility for the alumni association chaplain. The chaplain will report to the College’s vice president for mission and ministry—currently Rev. Joseph J. Guido, O.P.—and will serve within the Office of the Chaplain/Campus Ministry.

Father Peterson has served the College community for more than 35 years—from 1964-1987 and from 1993 to the present. He came to the College to teach in the Department of Theology and to serve as assistant to the bursar. The founder of the College’s Office of Financial Aid, he served as treasurer from 1974-1987. He began his work in the Office of Admission in 1993.

His new role as chaplain is attractive in several ways, said Father Peterson. It is an opportunity to work directly with “very good people” in the Office of Institutional Advancement. It also allows him to serve the alumni association and to know its members on a more personal basis.

“I look forward to getting to know our alumni/ae better and to discussing their accomplishments—and there are many,” he emphasized.